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Somehow, somewhere, for some reason, the original story that went with these pictures has disappeared. So I'll try and recreate it from memory.

Our friends Greg and Andrea had finally (after 18 months of looking) bought a massive home at Forest Lodge. Their current apartment at Cremorne Point was really cool and had the most spectacular view of the harbour, so they had a farewell party.

Greg fired up his Weber and everyone brought meat suitable for barbecuing. Sarah made chicken wings for everyone, and a large (very rich, very evil) Tiramisu for desert.

It had rained a bit all through the afternoon, but after desert the clouds had turned decidedly black. Laura and I, on our bikes as always, took the sight of those clouds as a cue to hit the road. Unfortunately, no sooner did we reach where our bikes were parked, the skies opened and sheets of rain drenched us from head to toe. We battled the dangerous conditions all the way home but thankfully made it one piece.

Well, like the little trooper she is, Laura had to perform her riding test in the driving rain. And like the little champion she is she nailed it - not a single negative point. Even better than I did all those years ago.

Well done Laura!

Well things have certainly been quiet on the blog front - one post for the whole of September and quite a few days into this month before a post. I guess Laura and I have just been, well, busy. But busy in a way that doesn't lend itself to writing a story for, like busy at work, and busy doing home chores. A few weeks ago we got his and her iPods which are just bloody fantastic things to have. For the last weekend in September Laura went to Brissie to visit her Mum and Grandparents and friends while I stayed at home and, well, worked.

So that brings us up to today. Girls Ride Out had organised another ride, this one to Kangaroo Valley, which with Laura's riding test on tomorrow's public holiday seemed like a good idea. We needed to get to the first meeting point at Casula by 9:00am for a 9:30 departure, but despite our best intentions to get there in plenty of time we yet again cut it fine by not leaving home until 8:30. Riding a bike is often a memory test - you can't just bust out the street directory as you go - and for much of the way I really had no idea where we were, and no idea how much further we had to go.

With perfect timing we rolled into the Caltex at Casula at 9:25, just in time to get the briefing. Sandra desribed the route - using McDonald's as a landmark a few too many times for my liking. The target was lunch at Kangaroo Valley, but we were going to get there via Narellan, over Razorback Mountain to Picton, then Bargo, Mittagong and into Bowral. Finally we were to go through Fitzroy Falls and onto Kangaroo Valley. The last stint was quite technical, but we all made it dry and in one piece.

After breaking for lunch and a bit of a chat the weather closed in and we decided to start the trek back home. The section back to Fitzroy Falls this time was uphill which was a lot more fun for me. Light rain started to fall so we were all just a little on edge. The group split into smaller groups a few times, only to regroup when we paused at fairly regular intervals.

The sky was turning very black (it was still mid-afternoon), so we decided to take the M5 shortcut (damn toll roads). Unfortunately it wasn't short enough - we got dumped on pretty badly but eventually made it home in one piece. I was disappointed because we didn't get a chance for Laura to practice her manouevres before tomorrow's big test.